Carpinus tree named ‘CCMTF1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Carpinus caroliniana tree named ‘CCMTF1’ is disclosed, characterized by bright green young foliage, dark green mature foliage and yellow Fall foliage. Tree shape is distinctively upright pyramidal. The new variety is a Carpinus tree, typically used for landscapes and gardens.

Latin name of the genus and species: Carpinus caroliniana.

Variety denomination: ‘CCMTF1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of chance discovery. The new variety wasdiscovered growing as a seedling among a group of crossbred Carpinuscaroliniana at a tree farm in Loganville, Ga. The inventor made thisdiscovery in Spring 2014. The exact seed and pollen parents cannot beidentified.

Asexual reproduction by grafting of the new cultivar ‘CCMTF1’ was firstperformed during the Summer of 2014 at a farm in Washington, Ga. Thecleft grafting system developed by the inventor has resulted in progenythat have proven the characteristics of the new variety to begenetically stable. This grafting process involved taking cuttings inFebruary, being grafted, and being placed in calloused chambers forapproximately three weeks. They are then moved into 3″×6″ tree band potsand placed in humidity chambers for approximately four weeks.Furthermore, these observations have confirmed that the new varietyrepresents a new and improved variety of Carpinus caroliniana tree asparticularly evidenced by the pyramidal growth habit with a strongcentral leader, its full scaffolding branch structure, and its deep,dark green lustrous foliage in summer and bright lustrous yellow leavesin the fall. These genetic traits can be consistently reproduced byasexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘CCMTF1’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘CCMTF1’ grown in Washington, Ga. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘CCMTF1’ as a new anddistinct Carpinus caroliniana cultivar:

-   1. Upright form, with pyramidal growth and a dominant central    leader.-   2. Bright green flush foliage in contrast with dark green mature    foliage.-   3. Bright yellow fall color.-   4. Rapid growth, approximately 1 inch of caliper growth per growing    season and 3.5 to 4 feet in height.-   5. Full scaffolding branch structure.

PARENT COMPARISON

The exact parent varieties cannot be identified.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CCMTF1’ are similar to plants of Carpinuscaroliniana ‘CCSQU’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,280, in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘CCMTF1’ differ inthe following:

-   1. The new variety has an upright pyramidal growth habit with strong    scaffolding, while this comparator has a tight upright growth habit.-   2. The new variety has a bright green Spring foliage flush in    contrast to dark mature foliage, while this comparator has dark    green foliage Spring through Summer.-   3. Foliage of the new variety falls off intermittently, while    foliage of this comparator falls off uniformly in the Fall.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CCMTF1’ are similar to plants of theunpatented commercial variety, Carpinus caroliniana ‘Uxbridge’ in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar‘CCMTF1’ differ in the following:

-   1. The new variety has an upright, pyramidal growth habit with    dominant central leader, while this comparator is upright and    narrow.-   2. The new variety has bright yellow fall foliage, while this    comparator has brighter red and orange fall foliage.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CCMTF1’ are similar to plants of theunpatented commercial variety, Carpinus caroliniana ‘J.N. Globe’ in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar‘CCMTF1’ differ in the following:

-   1. The new variety has an upright pyramidal growth habit, while this    comparator has a compact globe form.-   2. New variety has bright yellow fall foliage, while this comparator    has orange-red fall color.-   3. New variety grows faster than this comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CCMTF1’ are similar to plants of theunpatented commercial variety, Carpinus caroliniana ‘JFS-KW6’ in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar‘CCMTF1’ differ in the following:

-   1. The new variety has an upright pyramidal growth habit with    dominant central leader, while this comparator is upright.-   2. New variety has bright yellow fall foliage, while this comparator    has red fall foliage.-   3. Leaves of this comparator hold fall color longer than the new    variety.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CCMTF1’ are similar to plants of theunpatented commercial variety, Carpinus caroliniana ‘J.N. Upright’ inmost horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar‘CCMTF1’ differ in the following:

-   1. The new variety has an upright, pyramidal growth habit with    dominant central leader, while this comparator is upright and    narrow.-   2. New variety has bright yellow fall foliage, while this comparator    has orange-red fall color.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CCMTF1’ are similar to plants of theunpatented commercial variety, Carpinus caroliniana ‘Pyramidalis’ inmost horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar‘CCMTF1’ differ in the following:

-   1. The new variety has an upright, pyramidal growth habit with    dominant central leader, while this comparator is v-shaped with    rounded top.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CCMTF1’ are similar to plants of theunpatented commercial variety, Carpinus caroliniana ‘Schmidt #6’ in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar‘CCMTF1’ differ in the following:

-   1. New variety has bright yellow fall foliage, while this comparator    has bright red fall color.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CCMTF1’ are similar to plants of theunpatented commercial variety, Carpinus caroliniana ‘Stowe Cascade’ inmost horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar‘CCMTF1’ differ in the following:

-   1. The new variety has an upright, pyramidal growth habit with    dominant central leader, while this comparator has an arching,    weeping form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates deciduous trees duringWinter in a field. The full scaffolding structure can be seen.

FIG. 2 illustrates a field of trees of the new variety during earlySummer, foliage color and the natural tree shape are illustrated.

FIG. 3 illustrates a field of trees during late Fall, showing yellowfoliage of ‘CCMTF1’.

All trees illustrated are field grown in Washington, Ga. Trees in FIGS.1, 2 and 3 are approximately 3 years from planting into the field, 4years old from grafting.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘CCMTF1’ plants grown outdoors and in anursery in Washington, Ga. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3gallon nursery container. Temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. atnight to 18° C. to 27° C. during the day. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Carpinus caroliniana ‘CCMTF1’.

PROPAGATION

-   Cleft grafting:-   Root description: Woody. Brown roots not accurately measured with an    R.H.S. Colour Chart.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright pyramidal tree.-   Height: Approximately 12 to 15 feet at 3 years.-   Spread: Approximately 12 to 15 feet at 3 years.-   Aspect and angle: Branches at acute angles, 45 degrees or less.-   Growth rate: Rapid, approximately 1 inch of caliper growth per    growing season and 3.5 to 4 feet in height.-   Trunk characteristics:    -   -   Diameter.—About 4 inches measured at approximately 3 inches            above soil level at 4 years.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Green 198A with large blotches 197A            and 197B.        -   Surface texture.—Rippled.        -   Lenticels present.—Yes. Inconspicuous, round.        -   Lenticel length.—Less than 0.5 mm.        -   Lenticel diameter.—Less than 0.5 mm.        -   Lenticel density.—Moderate.        -   Lenticel color.—Near RHS Greyed-Green 198D.-   Stem characteristics:    -   -   Length.—Average Range 30 to 65 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average 7 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple N187A.        -   Surface texture.—Dense lenticels, about 1 mm long and less            than 1 mm wide. Colored near White N155A.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Average length.—Approximately 8 cm excluding petiole.        -   Average width.—Approximately 5 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse or asymmetrical cordate.        -   Margin.—Double serrate. Secondary serration minute. Primary            serration regular, at intervals about 8 to 10 mm.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of lower surface.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Young foliage: Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green            N144B. Under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Mature            foliage: Upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Under side: Near            RHS Green 138A. Fall foliage: Upper side: Near RHS Yellow            13A. Under side: Near RHS Yellow 13C.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Color: Venation color upper side:            Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Venation color under side: Near            RHS Yellow-Green N144A.        -   Petiole.—Length: Average 9 mm. Diameter: Average 2 mm.            Color: Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Under side:            Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.        -   Leaf bud.—Narrow deltoid, about 5 mm long and 3 mm at widest            point. Colored near Greyed-Orange 175A.

FLOWER

-   Flowering begins: Around early Spring in Georgia. Individual male    and female catkins.-   Male catkins: About 3 to 6 cm long, about 5 to 8 mm wide. Weeping.    Colored near RHS Yellow-Green 145A, turning Yellow-Green 154C    flushed Greyed-Red 181B.-   Female catkins: Paired, about 2 cm long and approximately 4 mm wide.    Colored near Yellow-Green 149D.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Reproductive organs minute, less than 1 mm and irregularly formed:-   Androecium:    -   -   Number.—Typically 3 stamens per flower.        -   Length.—About 5 mm.        -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 145C.-   Gynoecium:-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—9 mm.        -   Style.—Length: 5 mm. Color: Near Yellow-Green 154D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near Greyed-Orange 163D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Carpinus has been observed.-   Drought resistance: No tolerance for drought.-   Temperature tolerance: USDA Zones 4 through 8.-   Fruits: Paired nutlets. Ovate, pubescent, about 7 mm long and 4 mm    in diameter. Colored near Yellow-Green 144B. Nutlet scale 3-lobed,    about 2 cm long and 1 cm wide. Immature nutlet scale colored near    Yellow-Green N144B, turning papery and Grey-Brown 199C around    October. Fall nutlet color near Grey-Brown Grey-Brown 199B.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Carpinuscaroliniana tree named ‘CCMTF1’ as herein illustrated and described.